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If you had told teenage me that I’d spend my later years designing planner pages and printables, I probably would’ve laughed. But looking back, the signs were there. I loved working on my high school newspaper (The Wildcat Roar)—cutting, pasting, and figuring out how to make everything fit just right. That was my first taste of design, even if I didn’t know that’s what it was.
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Don't you just love that feeling of checking off a box—especially when you're building new habits? The Don’t Break the Chain method turns that simple act into a daily motivator to help you stay consistent and focused.
This idea became famous thanks to comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who used a calendar to track his writing days. Every day he wrote, he marked an X on the date. Over time, those X’s formed a satisfying chain—and his goal became simple: Don’t break it.
You can use this same method to stay consistent with any goal—daily Bible reading, journaling, stretching, drinking water, or even working on creative projects.
About the Free Printable
This free planner page includes 7 (depending on your size) mini habit trackers per sheet, each with:
A space to write your habit or goal
31 small boxes for daily checkmarks or X’s
A clean, uncluttered design that fits easily into your planner setup
You can use all seven trackers for different habits or use one tracker for a single habit across multiple months.
To fit your favorite planner, this printable is available in:
A5
Half Letter
Franklin Covey Compact (FCC)
Personal
Print your preferred size and trim if needed.
Write your habit at the top of each tracker (for example: “Evening walk,” “Prayer time,” or “No sugar”).
Mark each successful day with an X, sticker, or color.
Keep your tracker visible—tuck it in your weekly pages or dashboard.
Enjoy the growing chain of progress!
If you miss a day, don’t stress—just start a new chain and keep going. The goal is consistency, not perfection.
This method keeps you focused on progress instead of pressure. Each mark on your tracker is a small victory that builds momentum over time. Before long, you’ll have a visible chain of success that keeps you motivated to continue.
You can download your free Don’t Break the Chain Habit Tracker below:
Available Sizes: A5 | Half | FCC | Personal
[Download Now]
Ten years ago, I didn’t know a thing about “month on two pages” or “dashboard inserts.” I just knew I needed something to keep my week straight. Back then, my life was a swirl of homeschooling, family meals, church events, and daily responsibilities. I didn’t have time to experiment with fancy systems—I just needed a piece of paper that helped me think clearly.
So, I made one.
It was a week on one page—what we used to call a Week-at-a-Glance (like the old DayTimers). I divided the half-letter sheet into two columns and three rows, giving me lined blocks for each day of the week plus a notes section.
Monday through Thursday filled the left column, while Friday through Sunday and Notes were on the right column. Each block had several lines for writing, enough to fit the busy flow of a week without feeling cramped.
I designed it with ½-inch margins on both the left and right sides, then double-punched the edges so I could always keep the page on the right side of my planner no matter how it was turned. My to-do list insert—half the width of a half-letter sheet—sat neatly on top of the weekly page, aligned to the edge so the right column (Friday through Notes) was still visible underneath.
It created a layered, functional setup: I could glance at my week, flip the to-do list like a tab, and never lose my place. I didn’t migrate tasks or overthink categories. I just wrote things down and crossed them off. It was simple, efficient, and it worked beautifully.
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Looking back, I realize that layout worked because it matched how my brain naturally sorted things:
All in one view. I could see my entire week at a glance—no flipping or scrolling.
Separation of tasks and schedule. My appointments lived on the weekly page; my running list stayed on the to-do sheet.
Half-letter format. The size felt light and manageable—just enough space to plan without being overwhelming.
No perfection pressure. I didn’t worry about stickers, highlightes, or “aesthetic spreads.” I just used it.
It turns out, simplicity breeds consistency. And consistency is what makes a system work.
Then came the planner explosion (or at least for me) —month on two pages, dailies, dashboards, trackers, inserts for everything under the sun. I started exploring, and suddenly my once-simple system became complicated and I had to re-find "planner peace".
Don’t get me wrong—trying different things taught me so much. But sometimes I look back at that first layout and realize: it wasn’t missing anything essential. It gave me focus and flow.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by planner options, remember this—the best layout is the one that fits your life right now. Not the prettiest, not the most popular, but the one that helps you breathe easier when you open it.
And sometimes, that’s a humble half sheet with a few ruled lines and a note section.
I recreated that very first layout for you as a free printable. It’s formatted for letter-size paper.
Week-at-a-Glance layout -print back and front and cut in half.
To-Do List insert - print back and front and cut in half twice (includes cut lines)
After ten years of planning, designing, and creating, I’ve learned that productivity isn’t about doing more—it’s about seeing clearly.
If your current planner feels too busy or overdesigned, maybe it’s time to revisit the basics. Sometimes the layout that worked first is the one that still works best.
Try it. Simplify. Cross things off. And remember: progress starts on paper.
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Save & Read It Later!
Welcome to Planner Fun Plus! Here I share planning inspiration, printable tools, and faith-filled encouragement. From homemaking to empty nest life, you’ll find ideas to help you stay organized and live with joy. I also design printable planners and sticky notes — many of which are available in my Etsy shop — so you can bring a little extra planning fun into your own life.
